Huskers WBB: UCLA Preview

Huskers Preview

The Huskers women's basketball team opens up a new chapter tomorrow in a brand new Pinnacle Bank Arena.  After posting new posting two exhibition victories over Pittsburg State (98-47) and Nebraska-Kearney (75-34), the Huskers appear ready to welcome in UCLA tomorrow afternoon.  The Huskers will return without guard Lindsey Moore but there is still plenty to get excited about with Jordan Hooper returning for her senior season after winning a goal medal at the World University Games and incoming freshman Hannah Tvrdy and Allie Havers who impressed in the exhibition games.

Hannah Tvrdy racked up 25 points in the two exhibition matches including 11 against UNK.  She has won three consecutive state championships at Seward High School where she was also teammates current Husker player Emily Cady.  Allie Havers stands a six feet five inches tall and although at first glance she appears slim for someone at that height she definitely makes up for that in athletic and technical ability.  Havers has recorded 21 points and 10 rebounds in the Huskers two exhibition matches.

UCLA Preview

The Bruins enter the 2013-14 season without three of their five top scorers and rebounders from last season where they made it to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 before being knocked out by Oklahoma.  Leading the way for UCLA is sixth year senior Atonye Nyingifa who led the team last season with an average of 11.6 points and 7.1 rebounds and racked up 19 points and 16 rebounds the Bruins 66-57 exhibition win over Vanguard.

Sophomore guard Nirra Fields got a lot of her minutes coming off the bench last season but expect her to see her in the starting lineup and get a lot more minutes this season.  The Montreal, Canada native had 17 points and nine rebounds in the exhibition game against Vanguard.

Junior center, Luiana Livulo is another internatonal player on the Bruins squad looking to make an impact this season.  Livulo is originally from Lisbon, Portugal and transferred to UCLA from Northwest Florida State last season.  She gathered 13 points and six rebounds in the exhibition game so it will be interesting to see how she matches up with Jordan Hooper in the first regular season matchup.

Here is another huskers.com Connie Yori's talking to Jeff Griesch about the buildup for the UCLA game and everything that's going on around the city of Lincoln.

GO BIG RED!!!